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Bonelli P, Serra E, Dei Giudici S, Peruzzu A, Crotti S, Danesi P, Carvelli A, Piseddu T, Masala G. Molecular phylogenetic analysis of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato infecting sheep in Italy. Acta Trop 2024; 252:107151. [PMID: 38367944 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2024.107151] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/10/2023] [Revised: 01/27/2024] [Accepted: 02/15/2024] [Indexed: 02/19/2024]
Abstract
Cystic Echinococcosis (CE), caused by the larval form of Echinococcus granulosus sensu lato, is a neglected zoonosis still threatening public health worldwide. In Italy different epidemiological scenarios were reported depending on the geographical area and associated socio-economic activities. Although in northern Italy the occurrence of E. granulosus is considered sporadic, in the southern regions and, particularly in Sardinia, CE prevalence reaches high levels. We analysed CE cysts collected from infected sheep from various areas of mainland Italy and the Sardinia island, with the main objective to investigate intergenotypic and intragenotypic variations at national level. CE cysts were collected from slaughtered sheep following post mortem inspection at local abattoirs. Total genomic DNA was extracted and amplification and sequencing of the partial mitochondrial genes nad5 and cox1 were performed. A Bayesian phylogenetic tree was estimated on a nad5 dataset (n = 260) composed of E. granulosus samples from this study (n = 126) and all the nad5 haplotypes available in GenBank (n = 134). In addition, haplotype network, diversity and neutrality analysis were performed on nad5 and cox1 sequences of Italian origin obtained in this study. E. granulosus sensu stricto (s.s.) was found to be the only Echinococcus species infecting sheep in Italy, mainly represented by G1 genotype (76 %) and, to a lower extent, by G3 genotype (24 %). Phylogenetic analyses revealed 40 nad5 and 33 cox 1 haplotypes, and the presence of two founder haplotypes, belonging to G1 and G3 genotype, showing 100 % similarity with DNA sequences from different geographic regions. The lack of geographical segregation, high haplotype and low nucleotide diversity coupled with significant negative values of Tajima's D and Fu's Fs observed in this study indicated high genetic variation and demographic expansion of E. granulosus s.s. in Italy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Piero Bonelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Laboratory of Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Via Vienna 2, Sassari, 07100, Italy.
| | - Elisa Serra
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Laboratory of Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Via Vienna 2, Sassari, 07100, Italy
| | - Silvia Dei Giudici
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, Diagnostica virologica, Sassari, 07100, Italy
| | - Angela Peruzzu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Laboratory of Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Via Vienna 2, Sassari, 07100, Italy
| | - Silvia Crotti
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale dell'Umbria e delle Marche, Perugia, 06126, Italy
| | - Patrizia Danesi
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Venezie, Legnaro, 35020, Italy
| | - Andrea Carvelli
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale del Lazio della Toscana, Roma, 00178, Italy
| | - Toni Piseddu
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Laboratory of Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Via Vienna 2, Sassari, 07100, Italy
| | - Giovanna Masala
- Istituto Zooprofilattico Sperimentale della Sardegna, WOAH Reference Laboratory for Echinococcosis, National Reference Laboratory of Echinococcosis (CeNRE), Via Vienna 2, Sassari, 07100, Italy
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Cabello-Donayre M, Cabello-Donayre I, Guerra D, Orrego LM, Morales JC, Cautain B, Vicente F, Pérez-Victoria JM. A yeast-based high-throughput screen identifies inhibitors of trypanosomatid HRG heme transporters with potent leishmanicidal and trypanocidal activity. Int J Antimicrob Agents 2024; 63:107092. [PMID: 38242251 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijantimicag.2024.107092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/03/2023] [Revised: 12/19/2023] [Accepted: 01/11/2024] [Indexed: 01/21/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES New drugs are required to treat neglected diseases caused by trypanosomatid parasites such as Leishmania, Trypanosoma brucei and Trypanosoma cruzi. An Achilles' heel of these parasites is their heme auxotrophy; they have an absolute dependence on scavenging this molecule from the host, and trypanosomatid HRG heme transporters (TrypHRG) play an important role in this process. As these proteins are essential for the parasites and have low similarity with their human orthologue, they have been proposed as attractive therapeutic targets. Here, we have developed two yeast-based assays that allow an inexpensive high-throughput screening of TrypHRG inhibitors within a cellular context. METHODS We first assessed that Leishmania major, Leishmania donovani and T. brucei HRG proteins were heterologously expressed in the digestive vacuole membrane of a mutant heme auxotrophic yeast strain. Here, TrypHRG imports hemoglobinderived heme into the cytosol, allowing mutant yeast to grow in the presence of low hemoglobin concentrations and promoting the activity of hemeproteins such as catalase, which was used as a reporter of cytosolic heme levels. RESULTS In the presence of a TrypHRG inhibitor, both catalase activity (test 1) and yeast growth (test 2) were diminished, being easily monitored. The assays were then tested on a pilot scale for HTS purposes using a collection of repurposing drugs and food antioxidants. Some of the TrypHRG inhibitors identified in yeast presented strong trypanocidal and leishmanicidal activity in the submicromolar range, proving the potential of this approach. CONCLUSIONS Cumulatively, it was shown that the inhibition bioassays developed were robust and applicable to large-scale HTS.
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Affiliation(s)
- María Cabello-Donayre
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain; Universidad Internacional de La Rioja, Logroño, La Rioja, Spain
| | - Irene Cabello-Donayre
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Diego Guerra
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain; Programa de Estudio y Control de Enfermedades Tropicales PECET, Faculty of Medicine, University of Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
| | - Lina M Orrego
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Juan C Morales
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Bastien Cautain
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - Francisca Vicente
- Fundación MEDINA, Centro de Excelencia en Investigación de Medicamentos Innovadores en Andalucía, PTS Granada, Granada, Spain
| | - José M Pérez-Victoria
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina "López-Neyra", CSIC, (IPBLN-CSIC), PTS Granada, Granada, Spain.
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Ranasinghe S, Armson A, Lymbery AJ, Zahedi A, Ash A. Medicinal plants as a source of antiparasitics: an overview of experimental studies. Pathog Glob Health 2023; 117:535-553. [PMID: 36805662 PMCID: PMC10392325 DOI: 10.1080/20477724.2023.2179454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/22/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in modern human and veterinary medicine, gastrointestinal (GI) parasitic infections remain a significant health issue worldwide, mainly in developing countries. Increasing evidence of the multi-drug resistance of these parasites and the side effects of currently available synthetic drugs have led to increased research on alternative medicines to treat parasitic infections. The exploration of potential botanical antiparasitics, which are inexpensive and abundant, may be a promising alternative in this context. This study summarizes the in vitro/in vivo antiparasitic efficacy of different medicinal plants and their components against GI parasites. Published literature from 1990-2020 was retrieved from Google Scholar, Web of Science, PubMed and Scopus. A total of 68 plant species belonging to 32 families have been evaluated as antiparasitic agents against GI parasites worldwide. The majority of studies (70%) were conducted in vitro. Most plants were from the Fabaceae family (53%, n = 18). Methanol (37%, n = 35) was the most used solvent. Leaf (22%, n = 16) was the most used plant part, followed by seed and rhizome (each 12%, n = 9). These studies suggest that herbal medicines hold a great scope for new drug discoveries against parasitic diseases and that the derivatives of these plants are useful structures for drug synthesis and bioactivity optimization.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sandamalie Ranasinghe
- Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Anthony Armson
- Exercise Science and Chiropractic, College of Science, Health, Engineering and Education, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Alan J. Lymbery
- Centre for Sustainable Aquatic Ecosystems, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Alireza Zahedi
- Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
| | - Amanda Ash
- Centre for Biosecurity and One Health, Harry Butler Institute, Murdoch University, Perth, Western Australia, Australia
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Muñoz-Calderón A, Ramírez JL, Díaz-Bello Z, Alarcón de Noya B, Noya O, Schijman AG. Genetic Characterization of Trypanosoma cruzi I Populations from an Oral Chagas Disease Outbreak in Venezuela: Natural Resistance to Nitroheterocyclic Drugs. ACS Infect Dis 2023; 9:582-592. [PMID: 36780430 DOI: 10.1021/acsinfecdis.2c00569] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/15/2023]
Abstract
The oral transmission of Chagas disease (oCD) in Venezuela announced its appearance in 2007. Different from other populations affected by oCD and despite close supervision during treatment with nitroheterocyclic drugs, the result was treatment failure. We studied genetic features of natural bloodstream parasite populations and populations after treatment of nine patients of this outbreak. In total, we studied six hemoculture isolates, eight Pre-Tx blood samples, and 17 samples collected at two or three Post-Tx time-points between 2007 and 2015. Parasitic loads were determined by quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR), and discrete typing units (DTU), minicircle signatures, and Tcntr-1 gene sequences were searched from blood samples and hemocultures. Half-maximal inhibitory concentration (IC50) values were measured from the hemocultures. All patients were infected by TcI. Significant decrease in parasitic loads was observed between Pre-Tx and Post-Tx samples, suggesting the evolution from acute to chronic phase of Chagas disease. 60% of intra-DTU-I variability was observed between Pre-Tx and Post-Tx minicircle signatures in the general population, and 43 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were detected in a total of 12 Tcntr-1 gene sequences, indicative of a polyclonal source of infection. SNPs in three post-Tx samples produced stop codons giving rise to putative truncated proteins or displaced open reading frames, which would render resistance genes. IC50 values varied from 5.301 ± 1.973 to 104.731 ± 4.556 μM, demonstrating a wide range of susceptibility. The poor drug response in the Pre-Tx parasite populations may be associated with the presence of naturally resistant parasite clones. Therefore, any information that can be obtained on drug susceptibility from in vitro assays, in vivo assays, or molecular characterization of natural populations of Trypanosoma cruzi becomes essential when therapeutic guidelines are designed in a given geographical area.
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Affiliation(s)
- Arturo Muñoz-Calderón
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires CP1428ADN, Argentina
| | - José Luis Ramírez
- Centro de Biotecnología, Fundación Instituto de Estudios Avanzados, Caracas CP1080, Venezuela
| | - Zoraida Díaz-Bello
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Belkisyolé Alarcón de Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Oscar Noya
- Instituto de Medicina Tropical "Dr. Félix Pifano", Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Central de Venezuela, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela.,Centro de Estudios sobre Malaria, Instituto de Altos Estudios, Ministerio del Poder Popular para la Salud, Caracas CP1050, Venezuela
| | - Alejandro G Schijman
- Laboratorio de Biología Molecular de la Enfermedad de Chagas, Instituto de Ingeniería Genética y Biología Molecular "Dr. Héctor Torres", Buenos Aires CP1428ADN, Argentina
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Keshtkar S, Kaviani M, Soleimanian S, Azarpira N, Asvar Z, Pakbaz S. Stem Cell-Derived Exosome as Potential Therapeutics for Microbial Diseases. Front Microbiol 2022; 12:786111. [PMID: 35237239 PMCID: PMC8882917 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2021.786111] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Exosomes, as the smallest extracellular vesicles that carry a cargo of nucleic acids, lipids, and proteins and mediate intercellular communication, have attracted much attention in diagnosis and treatment in the field of medicine. The contents of exosomes vary depending on the cell type and physiological conditions. Among exosomes derived from several cell types, stem cell-derived exosomes (stem cell-Exo) are increasingly being explored due to their immunomodulatory properties, regenerative capacity, anti-inflammatory and anti-microbial functions. Administration of stem cell-Exo, as a cell-free therapy for various diseases, has gained great promise. Indeed, the advantages of exosomes secreted from stem cells outweigh those of their parent cells owing to their small size, high stability, less immunogenicity, no risk of tumorigenesis, and easier condition for storage. Recently, the use of stem cell-Exo has been proposed in the field of microbial diseases. Pathogens including bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites can cause various diseases in humans with acute and chronic complications, sometimes resulting in mortality. On the other hand, treatments based on antibiotics and other chemical compounds have many side effects and the strains become resistant to drugs in some cases. Hence, this review aimed to highlight the effect of stem cell-derived extracellular vesicles including stem cell-Exo on microbial diseases. Although most published studies are preclinical, the avenue of clinical application of stem cell-Exo is under way to reach clinical applications. The challenges ahead of this cell-free treatment that might be applied as a therapeutic alternative to stem cells for translation from bench to bed were emphasized, as well.
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Affiliation(s)
- Somayeh Keshtkar
- Molecular Dermatology Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Maryam Kaviani
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Saeede Soleimanian
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Negar Azarpira
- Transplant Research Center, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Zahra Asvar
- Nanotechnology School of Advanced Medical Sciences and Technologies, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Sara Pakbaz
- Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathobiology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada
- Department of Pathology, University Health Network, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Folliero V, Zannella C, Chianese A, Stelitano D, Ambrosino A, De Filippis A, Galdiero M, Franci G, Galdiero M. Application of Dendrimers for Treating Parasitic Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2021; 13:343. [PMID: 33808016 PMCID: PMC7998910 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics13030343] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2021] [Revised: 02/23/2021] [Accepted: 03/01/2021] [Indexed: 01/02/2023] Open
Abstract
Despite advances in medical knowledge, parasitic diseases remain a significant global health burden and their pharmacological treatment is often hampered by drug toxicity. Therefore, drug delivery systems may provide useful advantages when used in combination with conventional therapeutic compounds. Dendrimers are three-dimensional polymeric structures, characterized by a central core, branches and terminal functional groups. These nanostructures are known for their defined structure, great water solubility, biocompatibility and high encapsulation ability against a wide range of molecules. Furthermore, the high ratio between terminal groups and molecular volume render them a hopeful vector for drug delivery. These nanostructures offer several advantages compared to conventional drugs for the treatment of parasitic infection. Dendrimers deliver drugs to target sites with reduced dosage, solving side effects that occur with accepted marketed drugs. In recent years, extensive progress has been made towards the use of dendrimers for therapeutic, prophylactic and diagnostic purposes for the management of parasitic infections. The present review highlights the potential of several dendrimers in the management of parasitic diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Veronica Folliero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.F.); (C.Z.); (A.C.); (D.S.); (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Carla Zannella
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.F.); (C.Z.); (A.C.); (D.S.); (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Annalisa Chianese
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.F.); (C.Z.); (A.C.); (D.S.); (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Debora Stelitano
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.F.); (C.Z.); (A.C.); (D.S.); (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Annalisa Ambrosino
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.F.); (C.Z.); (A.C.); (D.S.); (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Anna De Filippis
- Department of Pharmacy, University of Naples “Federico II”, 80131 Naples, Italy;
| | - Marilena Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.F.); (C.Z.); (A.C.); (D.S.); (A.A.); (M.G.)
| | - Gianluigi Franci
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry “Scuola Medica Salernitana”, University of Salerno, 84081 Baronissi, Italy;
| | - Massimiliano Galdiero
- Department of Experimental Medicine, University of Campania “Luigi Vanvitelli”, 80138 Naples, Italy; (V.F.); (C.Z.); (A.C.); (D.S.); (A.A.); (M.G.)
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Sezavar M, Sharifi I, Ghasemi Nejad Almani P, Kazemi B, Davoudi N, Salari S, Salarkia E, Khosravi A, Bamorovat M. The potential therapeutic role of PTR1 gene in non-healing anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis due to Leishmania tropica. J Clin Lab Anal 2021; 35:e23670. [PMID: 33283321 PMCID: PMC7957997 DOI: 10.1002/jcla.23670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/04/2020] [Revised: 11/06/2020] [Accepted: 11/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/15/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Drug resistance is a common phenomenon frequently observed in countries where leishmaniasis is endemic. Due to the production of the pteridine reductase enzyme (PTR1), drugs lose their efficacy, and consequently, the patient becomes unresponsive to treatment. This study aimed to compare the in vitro effect of meglumine antimoniate (MA) on non- healing Leishmania tropica isolates and on MA transfected non-healing one to PTR1. METHODS Two non-healing and one healing isolates of L. tropica were collected from patients who received two courses or one cycle of intralesional MA along with biweekly liquid nitrogen cryotherapy or systemic treatment alone, respectively. After confirmation of L. tropica isolates by polymerase chain reaction (PCR), the recombinant plasmid pcDNA-rPTR (antisense) was transfected via electroporation and cultured on M199. Isolates in form of promastigotes were treated with different concentrations of MA and read using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) reader and the half inhibitory concentration (IC50 ) value was calculated. The amastigotes were grown in mouse macrophages and were similarly treated with various concentrations of MA. The culture glass slides were stained, and the mean number of intramacrophage amastigotes and infected macrophages were assessed in triplicate for both stages. RESULTS All three transfected isolates displayed a reduction in optical density compared with the promastigotes in respective isolates, although there was no significant difference between non-healing and healing isolates. In contrast, in the clinical form (amastigotes), there was a significant difference between non-healing and healing isolates (p < 0.05). CONCLUSION The results indicated that the PTR1 gene reduced the efficacy of the drug, and its inhibition by antisense and could improve the treatment of non-healing cases. These findings have future implications in the prophylactic and therapeutic modality of non- healing Leishmania isolates to drug.
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Affiliation(s)
- Monireh Sezavar
- Department of Experimental SciencesFaculty of Allied medicineAlborz University of Medical SciencesKarajIran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | | | - Bahram Kazemi
- Cellular and Molecular Biology, Research CentreShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesTehranIran
- Biotechnology Department, School of Advanced Technologies in MedicineShahid Beheshti University of Medical SciencesIran
| | - Noushin Davoudi
- Department of BiotechnologyPasteur Institute of IranTehranIran
| | - Samira Salari
- Medical Mycology and Bacteriology Research CenterKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | - Ehsan Salarkia
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | - Ahmad Khosravi
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research CentreKerman University of Medical SciencesKermanIran
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Ortega MÁ, Guzmán Merino A, Fraile-Martínez O, Recio-Ruiz J, Pekarek L, G. Guijarro L, García-Honduvilla N, Álvarez-Mon M, Buján J, García-Gallego S. Dendrimers and Dendritic Materials: From Laboratory to Medical Practice in Infectious Diseases. Pharmaceutics 2020; 12:pharmaceutics12090874. [PMID: 32937793 PMCID: PMC7560085 DOI: 10.3390/pharmaceutics12090874] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2020] [Revised: 09/11/2020] [Accepted: 09/11/2020] [Indexed: 02/07/2023] Open
Abstract
Infectious diseases are one of the main global public health risks, predominantly caused by viruses, bacteria, fungi, and parasites. The control of infections is founded on three main pillars: prevention, treatment, and diagnosis. However, the appearance of microbial resistance has challenged traditional strategies and demands new approaches. Dendrimers are a type of polymeric nanoparticles whose nanometric size, multivalency, biocompatibility, and structural perfection offer boundless possibilities in multiple biomedical applications. This review provides the reader a general overview about the uses of dendrimers and dendritic materials in the treatment, prevention, and diagnosis of highly prevalent infectious diseases, and their advantages compared to traditional approaches. Examples of dendrimers as antimicrobial agents per se, as nanocarriers of antimicrobial drugs, as well as their uses in gene transfection, in vaccines or as contrast agents in imaging assays are presented. Despite the need to address some challenges in order to be used in the clinic, dendritic materials appear as an innovative tool with a brilliant future ahead in the clinical management of infectious diseases and many other health issues.
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Affiliation(s)
- Miguel Ángel Ortega
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (M.Á.O.); (A.G.M.); (O.F.-M.); (L.P.); (N.G.-H.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.)
- Institute Ramón y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Tumour Registry, Pathological Anatomy Service, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- University Center for the Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid, Spain
| | - Alberto Guzmán Merino
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (M.Á.O.); (A.G.M.); (O.F.-M.); (L.P.); (N.G.-H.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.)
| | - Oscar Fraile-Martínez
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (M.Á.O.); (A.G.M.); (O.F.-M.); (L.P.); (N.G.-H.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.)
| | - Judith Recio-Ruiz
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, and Research Institute in Chemistry “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR), University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
| | - Leonel Pekarek
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (M.Á.O.); (A.G.M.); (O.F.-M.); (L.P.); (N.G.-H.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.)
| | - Luis G. Guijarro
- Department of Systems Biology, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
- Networking Research Centre on Hepatic and Digestive Diseases (CIBER-EHD), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Natalio García-Honduvilla
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (M.Á.O.); (A.G.M.); (O.F.-M.); (L.P.); (N.G.-H.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.)
- Institute Ramón y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- University Center for the Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid, Spain
| | - Melchor Álvarez-Mon
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (M.Á.O.); (A.G.M.); (O.F.-M.); (L.P.); (N.G.-H.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.)
- Institute Ramón y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- University Center for the Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid, Spain
- Immune System Diseases-Rheumatology, Oncology and Medicine Service, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Madrid, Spain
| | - Julia Buján
- Department of Medicine and Medical Specialities, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain; (M.Á.O.); (A.G.M.); (O.F.-M.); (L.P.); (N.G.-H.); (M.Á.-M.); (J.B.)
- Institute Ramón y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Tumour Registry, Pathological Anatomy Service, University Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, 28805 Alcalá de Henares, Spain
- University Center for the Defense of Madrid (CUD-ACD), 28047 Madrid, Spain
| | - Sandra García-Gallego
- Institute Ramón y Cajal for Health Research (IRYCIS), 28034 Madrid, Spain
- Department of Organic and Inorganic Chemistry, Faculty of Sciences, and Research Institute in Chemistry “Andrés M. del Río” (IQAR), University of Alcalá, 28801 Alcalá de Henares, Spain;
- Correspondence:
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Albino SL, da Silva JM, de C Nobre MS, de M E Silva YMS, Santos MB, de Araújo RSA, do C A de Lima M, Schmitt M, de Moura RO. Bioprospecting of Nitrogenous Heterocyclic Scaffolds with Potential Action for Neglected Parasitosis: A Review. Curr Pharm Des 2020; 26:4112-4150. [PMID: 32611290 DOI: 10.2174/1381612826666200701160904] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2020] [Accepted: 04/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Neglected parasitic diseases are a group of infections currently considered as a worldwide concern. This fact can be attributed to the migration of these diseases to developed and developing countries, associated with therapeutic insufficiency resulted from the low investment in the research and development of new drugs. In order to overcome this situation, bioprospecting supports medicinal chemistry in the identification of new scaffolds with therapeutically appropriate physicochemical and pharmacokinetic properties. Among them, we highlight the nitrogenous heterocyclic compounds, as they are secondary metabolites of many natural products with potential biological activity. The objective of this work was to review studies within a 10-year timeframe (2009- 2019), focusing on the pharmacological application of nitrogen bioprospectives (pyrrole, pyridine, indole, quinoline, acridine, and their respective derivatives) against neglected parasitic infections (malaria, leishmania, trypanosomiases, and schistosomiasis), and their application as a template for semi-synthesis or total synthesis of potential antiparasitic agents. In our studies, it was observed that among the selected articles, there was a higher focus on the attempt to identify and obtain novel antimalarial compounds, in a way that an extensive amount of studies involving all heterocyclic nitrogen nuclei were found. On the other hand, the parasites with the lowest number of publications up until the present date have been trypanosomiasis, especially those caused by Trypanosoma cruzi, and schistosomiasis, where some heterocyclics have not even been cited in recent years. Thus, we conclude that despite the great biodiversity on the planet, little attention has been given to certain neglected tropical diseases, especially those that reach countries with a high poverty rate.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sonaly L Albino
- Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, R. Baraunas, 351, Cidade Universitaria, Campina Grande, Paraiba, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Jamire M da Silva
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Michelangela S de C Nobre
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Yvnni M S de M E Silva
- Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, R. Baraunas, 351, Cidade Universitaria, Campina Grande, Paraiba, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Mirelly B Santos
- Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, R. Baraunas, 351, Cidade Universitaria, Campina Grande, Paraiba, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Rodrigo S A de Araújo
- Universidade Estadual da Paraiba, R. Baraunas, 351, Cidade Universitaria, Campina Grande, Paraiba, 58429-500, Brazil
| | - Maria do C A de Lima
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
| | - Martine Schmitt
- Universite de Strasbourg, CNRS, LIT UMR 7200, Laboratoire d'innovation therapeutique, Illkirch, France
| | - Ricardo O de Moura
- Universidade Federal de Pernambuco, Av. Prof. Moraes Rego 1235, Cidade Universitaria, Recife, Pernambuco, 50670-901, Brazil
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10
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Garg A, Singh B, Sharma R, Singh A, Kumar A. Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators (SERMs): Mechanistic Insights Against Microbial Infections. Curr Mol Med 2020; 20:102-115. [PMID: 31622201 DOI: 10.2174/1566524019666191014112133] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/19/2019] [Revised: 09/06/2019] [Accepted: 09/13/2019] [Indexed: 12/31/2022]
Abstract
Background:
Infections are one of the leading causes of death worldwide
and currently available treatments remain unsatisfactory due to rise in the cases of
antimicrobial resistance. Thus, there is a need for the development of new drugs with
different mechanisms of action. However, the development of new antimicrobials agents
is a long and expensive process. Hence, most of the pharmaceutical companies are
Methodology:
The data related to SERMs and microbial infection has been extracted
from Pub Med (from January 1997 to December 2018). A total of 101 studies have been
published from 1997 -2018 regarding SERMs and microbial infections.
Results:
On the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria, 25 studies have been included
for the analysis of level of evidence regarding antimicrobial effects of SERMs. Emerging
reports have indicated the antimicrobial property of selective estrogen receptor
modulators (SERMs) against normal and resistant strains under in vitro and in vivo
conditions against wide variety of microorganisms through different mechanisms of
action.
Conclusion:
In conclusion, SERMs could be developed as a broad spectrum
antimicrobial agent alone or in combination with existing antimicrobial agents.
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Affiliation(s)
- Aakriti Garg
- Department of Pharmacology, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy (ISFCP), Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Balraj Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy (ISFCP), Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Ruchika Sharma
- Department of Biotechnology, Indo-Soviet Friendship Institute of Professional Studies (ISFIPS), Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Arti Singh
- Department of Pharmacology, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy (ISFCP), Moga, Punjab, India
| | - Anoop Kumar
- Department of Pharmacology, Indo-Soviet Friendship College of Pharmacy (ISFCP), Moga, Punjab, India
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11
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Antoszczak M, Steverding D, Huczyński A. Anti-parasitic activity of polyether ionophores. Eur J Med Chem 2019; 166:32-47. [DOI: 10.1016/j.ejmech.2019.01.035] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 01/15/2019] [Indexed: 02/04/2023]
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12
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Montazeri M, Mehrzadi S, Sharif M, Sarvi S, Tanzifi A, Aghayan SA, Daryani A. Drug Resistance in Toxoplasma gondii. Front Microbiol 2018; 9:2587. [PMID: 30420849 PMCID: PMC6215853 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2018.02587] [Citation(s) in RCA: 102] [Impact Index Per Article: 17.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2017] [Accepted: 10/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Toxoplasma gondii (T. gondii) is a global protozoan parasite infecting up to one-third of the world population. Pyrimethamine (PYR) and sulfadiazine (SDZ) are the most widely used drugs for treatment of toxoplasmosis; however, several failure cases have been recorded as well; suggesting the existence of drug resistant strains. This review aims to give a systematic and comprehensive understanding of drug resistance in T. gondii including mechanisms of resistance and sites of drug action in parasite. Analogous amino acid substitutions in the Toxoplasma enzyme were identified to confer PYR resistance. Moreover, resistance to clindamycin, spiramycin, and azithromycin is encoded in the rRNA genes of T. gondii. However, T. gondii SDZ resistance mechanism has not been proved yet. Recently there has been a slight increase in SDZ resistance. That is why the majority of studies were carried out using SDZ. Six strains resistant to SDZ were found in clinical cases between 2013 and 2017 which among Brazilian T. gondii isolates, TgCTBr11, Ck3, and Pg1 were identified in human toxoplasmosis, as well as in livestock intended for human consumption. In conclusion, recent experimental studies in clinical cases have clearly shown that drug resistance in Toxoplasma is ongoing. Thus, establishing a more effective therapeutic scheme in the treatment of toxoplasmosis is critically needed. The emergence of T. gondii strains resistant to current drugs, reviewed here, represents a concern not only for treatment failure but also for increased clinical severity in immunocompromised patients. To improve the therapeutic outcome in patients, a greater understanding of the exact mechanisms of drug resistance in T. gondii should be developed. Thus, monitoring the presence of resistant parasites, in food products, would seem a prudent public health program.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mahbobeh Montazeri
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Saeed Mehrzadi
- Razi Drug Research Center, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
| | - Mehdi Sharif
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Department of Parasitology, School of Medicine, Sari Branch, Islamic Azad University, Sari, Iran
| | - Shahabeddin Sarvi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Department of Parasitology, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Asal Tanzifi
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Student Research Committee, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
| | - Sargis A Aghayan
- Laboratory of Zoology, Research Institute of Biology, Yerevan State University, Yerevan, Armenia
| | - Ahmad Daryani
- Toxoplasmosis Research Center, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran.,Department of Parasitology, Sari Medical School, Mazandaran University of Medical Sciences, Sari, Iran
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Oliaee RT, Sharifi I, Afgar A, Kareshk AT, Asadi A, Heshmatkhah A, Bamorovat M, Jafarzadeh A, Mohammadi MA, Daneshvar H. Unresponsiveness to meglumine antimoniate in anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis field isolates: analysis of resistance biomarkers by gene expression profiling. Trop Med Int Health 2018; 23:622-633. [PMID: 29709098 DOI: 10.1111/tmi.13062] [Citation(s) in RCA: 31] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/01/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Resistance to antimonials is a fundamental determinant of treatment failure in anthroponotic cutaneous leishmaniasis (ACL). Detection of reliable molecular markers to distinguish unresponsive and responsive parasites is critical for consolidating strategies to monitor drug efficacy. METHODS We analysed the expression of five major antimony resistance-associated genes that is aquaglyceroporin1 (AQP1), γ-glutamylcysteine synthetase (γ-GCS), multidrug resistance protein A (MRPA), trypanothione reductase (TR) and thiol-dependent reductase 1 (TDR1), in unresponsive and responsive Leishmania tropica field isolates by quantitative real-time PCR in comparison with sensitive and resistant reference strains. RESULTS Gene expression analysis showed the down-regulation of AQP1, γ-GCS and TDR1 by a factor of 1.9, 1.7 and 3.55, respectively, in unresponsive isolates vs. responsive ones. The average RNA expression level of MRPA increased by a factor of 1.9 in the unresponsive group. Isolates exhibited a strong positive linear correlation between gene expression of AQP1 and γ-GCS. A negative correlation between the AQP1 and γ-GCS expression level and lesion duration in responsive patients indicated the potential role in diagnosing drug-unresponsive parasites in endemic areas of ACL. CONCLUSION In cases of inconclusive outcomes of resistance tests in clinical isolates, expression analysis of a set of influential genes can be beneficial to identify distinctive biomarkers between antimony-unresponsive and responsive parasites.
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Affiliation(s)
- Razieh Tavakoli Oliaee
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Iraj Sharifi
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Ali Afgar
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Amir Tavakoli Kareshk
- Department of Microbiology, School of Medicine, Birjand University of Medical Sciences, Birjand, Iran
| | - Arash Asadi
- Department of Medical Parasitology and Mycology, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Amireh Heshmatkhah
- Dadbin Health Clinic, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mehdi Bamorovat
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Abdollah Jafarzadeh
- Department of Immunology, Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Mohammadi
- Research Center for Hydatid Disease in Iran, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Hamid Daneshvar
- Department of Immunology, Medical School, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
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14
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Belew S, Suleman S, Wynendaele E, D’Hondt M, Kosgei A, Duchateau L, De Spiegeleer B. Quality of anthelminthic medicines available in Jimma Ethiopia. Acta Trop 2018; 177:157-163. [PMID: 29030043 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2017.10.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/30/2017] [Revised: 09/15/2017] [Accepted: 10/07/2017] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
Soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis are major public health problems in Ethiopia. Mass deworming of at-risk population using a single dose administration of 400mg albendazole (ABZ) or 500mg mebendazole (MBZ) for treatment of common intestinal worms and 40mg of praziquantel (PZQ) per kg body weight for treatment of schistosomiasis is one of the strategies recommended by World Health Organization (WHO) in order to control the morbidity of soil-transmitted helminthiasis and schistosomiasis. Since storage condition, climate, way of transportation and distribution route could all affect the quality of medicines, regular assessment by surveys is very critical to ensure the therapeutic outcome, to minimize risk of toxicity to the patient and resistance of parasites. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the pharmaceutical quality of ABZ, MBZ and PZQ tablet brands commonly available in Jimma town (south west Ethiopia). Retail pharmacies (n=10) operating in Jimma town were selected using simple random sampling method. Samples of anthelminthic medicines available in the selected pharmacies were collected. Sample information was recorded and encompassed trade name, active ingredient name, manufacturer's name and full address, labeled medicine strength, dosage form, number of units per container, dosage statement, batch/lot number, manufacturing and expiry dates, storage information and presence of leaflets/package insert. Moreover, a first visual inspection was performed encompassing uniformity of color, uniformity of size, breaks, cracks, splits, embedded surface spots or visual contaminations. Finally, physico-chemical quality attributes investigated encompassed mass uniformity, quantity of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API), disintegration and dissolution, all following Pharmacopoeial test methods The physical characteristics of dosage form, packaging and labeling information of all samples complied with criteria given in the WHO checklists. The mass uniformity of tablets of each brand of ABZ, MBZ and PZQ complied with the pharmacopoeial specification limits, i.e no more than 2 individual masses >5% of average tablet weight, and none deviate by more than 10%. The quantity of APIs in all investigated tablet brands were within the 90-110% label claim (l.c.) limits, ranging between 95.05 and 110.09% l.c. Disintegration times were in line with the pharmacopoeial specification limit for immediate release (IR) tablets, ranging between 0.5 and 13min. However, the dissolution results (mean±SD, n=6) of one ABZ brand (i.e. Wormin®, Q=59.21±0.99% at 30min) and two PZQ brands (i.e. Bermoxel®, Q=63.43%±0.7 and Distocide®, Q=62.43%±1.67, at 75min) showed poor dissolution, failing the United States Pharmacopoeia (USP) dissolution specification limit.
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15
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Function Oriented Molecular Design: Dendrimers as Novel Antimicrobials. Molecules 2017; 22:molecules22101581. [PMID: 28934169 PMCID: PMC6151464 DOI: 10.3390/molecules22101581] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/11/2017] [Revised: 09/08/2017] [Accepted: 09/11/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
In recent years innovative nanostructures are attracting increasing interest and, among them, dendrimers have shown several fields of application. Dendrimers can be designed and modified in plentiful ways giving rise to hundreds of different molecules with specific characteristics and functionalities. Biomedicine is probably the field where these molecules find extraordinary applicability, and this is probably due to their multi-valency and to the fact that several other chemicals can be coupled to them to obtain desired compounds. In this review we will describe the different production strategies and the tools and technologies for the study of their characteristics. Finally, we provide a panoramic overview of their applications to meet biomedical needs, especially their use as novel antimicrobials.
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16
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Ullah N, Nadhman A, Siddiq S, Mehwish S, Islam A, Jafri L, Hamayun M. Plants as Antileishmanial Agents: Current Scenario. Phytother Res 2016; 30:1905-1925. [DOI: 10.1002/ptr.5710] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2016] [Revised: 07/18/2016] [Accepted: 08/12/2016] [Indexed: 01/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Nazif Ullah
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences; Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan; Mardan Pakistan
| | - Akhtar Nadhman
- Sulaiman Bin Abdullah Aba Al Khail Centre for Interdisciplinary Research in Basic Sciences (SA-CIRBS); International Islamic University; Islamabad 44000 Pakistan
| | - Sumaira Siddiq
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences; Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan; Mardan Pakistan
| | - Shaila Mehwish
- Department of Biotechnology, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences; Abdul Wali Khan University Mardan; Mardan Pakistan
| | - Arshad Islam
- Laboratório de Immunopatologia, Núcleo de Pesquisa em Ciências Biológicas, (NUPEB), Programa de Pós-graduação em Ciências Biológicas; Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto; Ouro Preto Minas Gerais 35.400-000 Brazil
| | - Laila Jafri
- Department of Biochemistry, Faculty of Sciences; Bahauddin Zakariya University; Multan Pakistan
| | - Muhammad Hamayun
- Department of Botany, Faculty of Chemical and Life Sciences; Abdul Wali Khan University; Mardan Pakistan
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Lanusse CE, Alvarez LI, Lifschitz AL. Gaining Insights Into the Pharmacology of Anthelmintics Using Haemonchus contortus as a Model Nematode. ADVANCES IN PARASITOLOGY 2016; 93:465-518. [PMID: 27238011 DOI: 10.1016/bs.apar.2016.02.014] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Progress made in understanding pharmacokinetic behaviour and pharmacodynamic mechanisms of drug action/resistance has allowed deep insights into the pharmacology of the main chemical classes, including some of the few recently discovered anthelmintics. The integration of pharmaco-parasitological research approaches has contributed considerably to the optimization of drug activity, which is relevant to preserve existing and novel active compounds for parasite control in livestock. A remarkable amount of pharmacology-based knowledge has been generated using the sheep abomasal nematode Haemonchus contortus as a model. Relevant fundamental information on the relationship among drug influx/efflux balance (accumulation), biotransformation/detoxification and pharmacological effects in parasitic nematodes for the most traditional anthelmintic chemical families has been obtained by exploiting the advantages of working with H. contortus under in vitro, ex vivo and in vivo experimental conditions. The scientific contributions to the pharmacology of anthelmintic drugs based on the use of H. contortus as a model nematode are summarized in the present chapter.
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Affiliation(s)
- C E Lanusse
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CICPBA-UNCPBA, Campus Universitario, Tandil, Argentina
| | - L I Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CICPBA-UNCPBA, Campus Universitario, Tandil, Argentina
| | - A L Lifschitz
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Centro de Investigación Veterinaria de Tandil (CIVETAN), CONICET-CICPBA-UNCPBA, Campus Universitario, Tandil, Argentina
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18
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El-Taweel HA. Understanding drug resistance in human intestinal protozoa. Parasitol Res 2015; 114:1647-59. [DOI: 10.1007/s00436-015-4423-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2014] [Accepted: 03/05/2015] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Mohapatra PK, Sarma DK, Prakash A, Bora K, Ahmed MA, Sarma B, Goswami BK, Bhattacharyya DR, Mahanta J. Molecular evidence of increased resistance to anti-folate drugs in Plasmodium falciparum in North-East India: a signal for potential failure of artemisinin plus sulphadoxine-pyrimethamine combination therapy. PLoS One 2014; 9:e105562. [PMID: 25184337 PMCID: PMC4153584 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0105562] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/14/2014] [Accepted: 07/24/2014] [Indexed: 01/16/2023] Open
Abstract
North-east India, being a corridor to South-east Asia, is believed to play an important role in transmitting drug resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria to India and South Asia. North-east India was the first place in India to record the emergence of drug resistance to chloroquine as well as sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine. Presently chloroquine resistance is widespread all over the North-east India and resistance to other anti-malarials is increasing. In this study both in vivo therapeutic efficacy and molecular assays were used to screen the spectrum of drug resistance to chloroquine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine in the circulating P. falciparum strains. A total of 220 P. falciparum positives subjects were enrolled in the study for therapeutic assessment of chloroquine and sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine and assessment of point mutations conferring resistances to these drugs were carried out by genotyping the isolates following standard methods. Overall clinical failures in sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine and chloroquine were found 12.6 and 69.5% respectively, while overall treatment failures recorded were 13.7 and 81.5% in the two arms. Nearly all (99.0%) the isolates had mutant pfcrt genotype (76 T), while 68% had mutant pfmdr-1 genotype (86 Y). Mutation in dhps 437 codon was the most prevalent one while dhfr codon 108 showed 100% mutation. A total of 23 unique haplotypes at the dhps locus and 7 at dhfr locus were found while dhps-dhfr combined loci revealed 49 unique haplotypes. Prevalence of double, triple and quadruple mutations were common while 1 haplotype was found with all five mutated codons (F/AGEGS/T) at dhps locus. Detection of quadruple mutants (51 I/59 R/108 N/164 L) in the present study, earlier recorded from Car Nicobar Island, India only, indicates the presence of high levels of resistance to sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine in north-east India. Associations between resistant haplotypes and the clinical outcomes and emerging resistance in sulphadoxine/pyrimethamine in relation to the efficacy of the currently used artemisinin combination therapy are discussed.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Anil Prakash
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region (ICMR), Dibrugarh, Assam, India; National Institute for Research in Environmental Health (ICMR), Kamla Nehru Hospital Building, Gandhi Medical College Campus, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh, India
| | - Khukumoni Bora
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region (ICMR), Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Md Atique Ahmed
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region (ICMR), Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | - Bibhas Sarma
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region (ICMR), Dibrugarh, Assam, India
| | | | | | - Jagadish Mahanta
- Regional Medical Research Centre, NE Region (ICMR), Dibrugarh, Assam, India
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Huang LYL, Chang CC, Lee YS, Chang JM, Huang JJ, Chuang SH, Kao KJ, Lau GMG, Tsai PY, Liu CW, Lin HS, Lau JYN. Activity of a novel Hec1-targeted anticancer compound against breast cancer cell lines in vitro and in vivo. Mol Cancer Ther 2014; 13:1419-30. [PMID: 24694948 DOI: 10.1158/1535-7163.mct-13-0700] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Current cytotoxic chemotherapy produces clinical benefit in patients with breast cancer but the survival impact is modest. To explore novel cytotoxic agents for the treatment of advanced disease, we have characterized a new and pharmacokinetically improved Hec1-targeted compound, TAI-95. Nine of 11 breast cancer cell lines tested were sensitive to nanomolar levels of TAI-95 (GI(50) = 14.29-73.65 nmol/L), and more importantly, TAI-95 was active on a number of cell lines that were resistant (GI(50) > 10 μmol/L) to other established cytotoxic agents. TAI-95 demonstrates strong inhibition of in vivo tumor growth of breast cancer model when administered orally, without inducing weight loss or other obvious toxicity. Mechanistically, TAI-95 acts by disrupting the interaction between Hec1 and Nek2, leading to apoptotic cell death in breast cancer cells. Furthermore, TAI-95 is active on multidrug-resistant (MDR) cell lines and led to downregulation of the expression of P-glycoprotein (Pgp), an MDR gene. In addition, TAI-95 increased the potency of cytotoxic Pgp substrates, including doxorubicin and topotecan. Certain clinical subtypes of breast cancer more likely to respond to Hec1-targeted therapy were identified and these subtypes are the ones associated with poor prognosis. This study highlights the potential of the novel anticancer compound TAI-95 in difficult-to-treat breast cancers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lynn Y L Huang
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Chi Chang
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ying-Shuan Lee
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jia-Ming Chang
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Jiann-Jyh Huang
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Hsien Chuang
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Kuo-Jang Kao
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Gillian M G Lau
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Pei-Yi Tsai
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Chia-Wei Liu
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Her-Sheng Lin
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Johnson Y N Lau
- Authors' Affiliations: Taivex Therapeutics Corporation, Taipei; and Development Center for Biotechnology, New Taipei City, Taiwan
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Hailemeskel E, Kassa M, Taddesse G, Mohammed H, Woyessa A, Tasew G, Sleshi M, Kebede A, Petros B. Prevalence of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance-associated mutations in dhfr and dhps genes of Plasmodium falciparum three years after SP withdrawal in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. Acta Trop 2013; 128:636-41. [PMID: 24055717 DOI: 10.1016/j.actatropica.2013.09.010] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2012] [Revised: 08/14/2013] [Accepted: 09/09/2013] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Ethiopia changed the first-line anti-malarial drug for uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria from sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) to Coartem(®) in 2004 following nation-wide assessment of the efficacy of both drugs in 2003. This study was conducted to assess the prevalence of sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine resistance-associated mutations in dhfr and dhps genes of P. falciparum three years after SP withdrawal in Bahir Dar, Northwest Ethiopia. A total of 165 blood spot samples were collected from patients infected with P. falciparum in Bahir Dar Health Center in 2005 (n=78) and 2008 (n=87) using Whatman (3M) filter papers. The three dhfr codons (dhfr108, dhfr 51 and dhfr 59) and the two dhps codons (dhfr 437 and 540) which are believed to determine SP resistance were detected by using nested PCR-based dot blot-hybridization technique. In dhfr, only the dhfr59Arg mutant-type showed statistically significant reduction from 80.3% in 2005 to 56.4% in 2008 (p<0.01) with a significant increase of the wild type dhfr59Cys haplotypes from 4.9% in 2005 to 29.5% in 2008 (p<0.01). The double mutants dhfr108Asn/51Ile were detected at rate of 98.4% in 2005 and 98.7% in 2008. A significant decrease in the triple dhfr (108Asn/51Ile/59Arg) mutation was observed from 2005 (78.6%) to 2008(56.4%) (p<0.01). The quadruple mutations of dhfr (108Asn/51Ile/59Arg)/dhps437Gly were significantly declined from 78.6% in 2005 to 53.8% in 2008 (p<0.01) while quintuple mutations (dhfr (108Asn/51Ile/59Arg)/dhps437Gly/dhps540Glu) showed a reduction from 60.6% to 37.2% after three years (p<0.01). In conclusion, the decline in the prevalence of dhfr/dhps combination mutations might indicate the re-emergence of sensitive parasites in the population following SP withdrawal. Therefore, further monitoring and assessment is important to determine the feasibility of re-introduction of SP alone or in combination as a more affordable and safer drug in the future in Ethiopia.
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Vardo-Zalik AM, Zhou G, Zhong D, Afrane YA, Githeko AK, Yan G. Alterations in Plasmodium falciparum genetic structure two years after increased malaria control efforts in western Kenya. Am J Trop Med Hyg 2013; 88:29-36. [PMID: 23166196 PMCID: PMC3541741 DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.2012.12-0308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/15/2012] [Accepted: 10/08/2012] [Indexed: 02/02/2023] Open
Abstract
The impact of malaria intervention measures (insecticide-treated net use and artemisinin combination therapy) on malaria genetics was investigated at two sites in western Kenya: an endemic lowland and an epidemic highland. The genetic structure of the parasite population was assessed by using microsatellites, and the prevalence of drug-resistant mutations was examined by using the polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism method. Two years after intervention, genetic diversity remained high in both populations. A significant decrease in the prevalence of quintuple mutations conferring resistance to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine was detected in both populations, but the mutation prevalence at codon 1246 of the Plasmodium falciparum multidrug resistance 1 gene had increased in the highland population. The decrease in sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine-resistant mutants is encouraging, but the increase in P. falciparum multidrug resistance 1 gene mutations is worrisome because these mutations are linked to resistance to other antimalarial drugs. In addition, the high level of genetic diversity observed after intervention suggests transmission is still high in each population.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M Vardo-Zalik
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California Irvine, Irvine, California, USA.
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Homology modeling, docking and molecular dynamics of the Leishmania mexicana arginase: A description of the catalytic site useful for drug design. J Mol Graph Model 2012; 38:50-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jmgm.2012.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/01/2012] [Revised: 08/02/2012] [Accepted: 08/02/2012] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Sensibilidad al benzonidazol de cepas de Trypanosoma cruzi sugiere la circulación de cepas naturalmente resistentes en Colombia. BIOMEDICA 2012. [DOI: 10.7705/biomedica.v32i2.458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
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Rojo-Vázquez FA, Meana A, Valcárcel F, Martínez-Valladares M. Update on trematode infections in sheep. Vet Parasitol 2012; 189:15-38. [PMID: 22521973 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2012.03.029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 82] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
Abstract
Trematode parasites live in the liver, fore stomachs or blood vessels of a wide range of animals and humans. Most of them have a special economic and veterinary significance. Liver fluke disease of sheep and other animal species is caused by the common liver fluke Fasciola hepatica. Hepatic fasciolosis occurs throughout the world, where climatic conditions are suitable for the survival of aquatic intermediate host snails. Also of importance for ruminants, in some parts of the world, are Fasciola gigantica and Fascioloides magna. Other trematodes infecting ruminants include Dicrocoelium dendriticum; Eurytrema pancreaticum and Eurytrema coelomaticum. Among the Paramphistomidae, some species can infect sheep and other ruminants. Finally, Schistosoma spp. are found in the blood vessels of ruminants and are of minor importance in temperate regions. The manuscript concentrates on trematode species of veterinary importance for domestic sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Rojo-Vázquez
- Departamento de Sanidad Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de León, 24071 León, Spain.
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Vokřál I, Jirásko R, Jedličková V, Bártíková H, Skálová L, Lamka J, Holčapek M, Szotáková B. The inability of tapeworm Hymenolepis diminuta and fluke Dicrocoelium dendriticum to metabolize praziquantel. Vet Parasitol 2011; 185:168-74. [PMID: 21996005 DOI: 10.1016/j.vetpar.2011.09.026] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2011] [Revised: 08/30/2011] [Accepted: 09/15/2011] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Biotransformation enzymes can, to a certain extent, protect parasitic worms against the toxic effects of anthelmintics and can contribute to drug-resistance development. The objective of our work was (1) to find and identify phase I and II metabolites of the anthelmintic praziquantel (PZQ) formed by the lancet fluke (Dicrocoelium dendriticum) and the rat tapeworm (Hymenolepis diminuta) and (2) to compare PZQ metabolites in helminths with PZQ biotransformation in rat as host species. Ultra high performance liquid chromatography/tandem mass spectrometry (UHPLC/MS/MS) was used for this purpose. During in vitro incubations, mitochondria-like and microsomes-like fractions (prepared from homogenates of adult worms or from rat liver homogenate) were incubated with 10 and 100 μM PZQ. Liquid/liquid extraction was used for samples during in vitro experiments. In the ex vivo study, living D. dendriticum and H. diminuta adults were incubated in RPMI-1640 medium in the presence of 50 nM or 100 nM PZQ for 24h. After incubation, the worms were removed from the medium and homogenized. Homogenates of worms, medium from the incubation of worms or rat hepatocytes and rat urine (collected during 24h after oral PZQ administration) were separately extracted using solid-phase extraction. The results showed that both D. dendriticum and H. diminuta enzymatic systems are not able to metabolize PZQ. On the other hand, thirty one different phase I and four phase II PZQ metabolites were detected in rat samples using UHPLC/MS/MS analyses. These results show that our experimental helminths, as the members of tapeworm and fluke groups of parasites, are not able to deactivate PZQ, and that the biotransformation enzymes of the studied helminths do not contribute to PZQ-resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ivan Vokřál
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Charles University, Heyrovského 1203, CZ-50005 Hradec Králové, Czech Republic
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Tanabe K, Lamping E, Nagi M, Okawada A, Holmes AR, Miyazaki Y, Cannon RD, Monk BC, Niimi M. Chimeras of Candida albicans Cdr1p and Cdr2p reveal features of pleiotropic drug resistance transporter structure and function. Mol Microbiol 2011; 82:416-33. [PMID: 21895791 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2011.07820.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/02/2023]
Abstract
Members of the pleiotropic drug resistance (PDR) family of ATP binding cassette (ABC) transporters consist of two homologous halves, each containing a nucleotide binding domain (NBD) and a transmembrane domain (TMD). The PDR transporters efflux a variety of hydrophobic xenobiotics and despite the frequent association of their overexpression with the multidrug resistance of fungal pathogens, the transport mechanism of these transporters is poorly understood. Twenty-eight chimeric constructs between Candida albicans Cdr1p (CaCdr1p) and Cdr2p (CaCdr2p), two closely related but functionally distinguishable PDR transporters, were expressed in Saccharomyces cerevisiae. All chimeras expressed equally well, localized properly at the plasma membrane, retained their transport ability, but their substrate and inhibitor specificities differed significantly between individual constructs. A detailed characterization of these proteins revealed structural features that contribute to their substrate specificities and their transport mechanism. It appears that most transmembrane spans of CaCdr1p and CaCdr2p provide or affect multiple, probably overlapping, substrate and inhibitor binding site(s) similar to mammalian ABC transporters. The NBDs, in particular NBD1 and/or the ∼150 amino acids N-terminal to NBD1, can also modulate the substrate specificities of CaCdr1p and CaCdr2p.
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Affiliation(s)
- Koichi Tanabe
- Department of Bioactive Molecules, National Institute of Infectious Diseases, Tokyo 162-8640, Japan
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Mejía-Jaramillo AM, Fernández GJ, Palacio L, Triana-Chávez O. Gene expression study using real-time PCR identifies an NTR gene as a major marker of resistance to benzonidazole in Trypanosoma cruzi. Parasit Vectors 2011; 4:169. [PMID: 21892937 PMCID: PMC3185274 DOI: 10.1186/1756-3305-4-169] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/14/2011] [Accepted: 09/05/2011] [Indexed: 01/10/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Chagas disease is a neglected illness, with limited treatments, caused by the parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Two drugs are prescribed to treat the disease, nifurtimox and benznidazole, which have been previously reported to have limited efficacy and the appearance of resistance by T. cruzi. Acquisition of drug-resistant phenotypes is a complex physiological process based on single or multiple changes of the genes involved, probably in its mechanisms of action. Results The differential genes expression of a sensitive Trypanosoma cruzi strain and its induced in vitro benznidazole-resistant phenotypes was studied. The stepwise increasing concentration of BZ in the parental strain generated five different resistant populations assessed by the IC50 ranging from 10.49 to 93.7 μM. The resistant populations maintained their phenotype when the BZ was depleted from the culture for many passages. Additionally, the benznidazole-resistant phenotypes presented a cross-resistance to nifurtimox but not to G418 sulfate. On the other hand, four of the five phenotypes resistant to different concentrations of drugs had different expression levels for the 12 genes evaluated by real-time PCR. However, in the most resistant phenotype (TcR5x), the levels of mRNA from these 12 genes and seven more were similar to the parental strain but not for NTR and OYE genes, which were down-regulated and over-expressed, respectively. The number of copies for these two genes was evaluated for the parental strain and the TcR5x phenotype, revealing that the NTR gene had lost a copy in this last phenotype. No changes were found in the enzyme activity of CPR and SOD in the most resistant population. Finally, there was no variability of genetic profiles among all the parasite populations evaluated by performing low-stringency single-specific primer PCR (LSSP-PCR) and random amplified polymorphic DNA RAPD techniques, indicating that no clonal selection or drastic genetic changes had occurred for the exposure to BZ. Conclusion Here, we propose NTR as the major marker of the appearance of resistance to BZ.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ana M Mejía-Jaramillo
- Grupo Biología y Control de Enfermedades Infecciosas-BCEI-SIU, Instituto de Biología, Universidad de Antioquia, Medellín, Colombia
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Campos-Salinas J, Cabello-Donayre M, García-Hernández R, Pérez-Victoria I, Castanys S, Gamarro F, Pérez-Victoria JM. A new ATP-binding cassette protein is involved in intracellular haem trafficking in Leishmania. Mol Microbiol 2011; 79:1430-44. [PMID: 21255121 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2958.2010.07531.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/08/2023]
Abstract
The characterization of LABCG5, a new intracellular ATP-binding cassette protein in Leishmania donovani, is described. Unlike other ABCG half-transporters, LABCG5 is not involved in either drug resistance or phospholipid efflux. However, we provide evidence suggesting that this protein is involved in intracellular haem trafficking. Thus, downregulation of LABCG5 function produced upon overexpression of an inactive version of the protein caused a dramatic growth arrest unless a haemin supplement was added or the mutated gene was eliminated. Supplementation with haemoglobin, an upstream metabolite normally sufficient to meet parasite haem requirements, was unable to rescue the growth defect phenotype. Haemoglobin endocytosis was not hampered in dominant-negative parasites and neither was haem uptake, a process that we show here to be dependent on a specific transporter. In contrast, LABCG5 function was required for the correct intracellular trafficking of haemoglobin-bound porphyrins to the mitochondria, not affecting the routing of free haem. Finally, LABCG5 binds haem through hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. Altogether, these data suggest that LABCG5 is involved in the salvage of the haem released after the breakdown of internalized haemoglobin. As Leishmania is auxotrophic for haem, the pharmacological targeting of this route could represent a novel approach to control fatal visceral leishmaniasis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jenny Campos-Salinas
- Instituto de Parasitología y Biomedicina 'López-Neyra', CSIC, Parque Tecnológico de Ciencias de la Salud, Avda. del Conocimiento s/n, 18100 Armilla, Granada, Spain
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Fernández MM, Malchiodi EL, Algranati ID. Differential effects of paromomycin on ribosomes of Leishmania mexicana and mammalian cells. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2011; 55:86-93. [PMID: 20956601 PMCID: PMC3019668 DOI: 10.1128/aac.00506-10] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/14/2010] [Revised: 06/16/2010] [Accepted: 10/10/2010] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Paromomycin, an aminoglycoside antibiotic having low mammalian cell toxicity, is one of the drugs currently used in the chemotherapy of cutaneous and visceral leishmaniasis. In order to understand the mode of action of this antibiotic at the molecular level, we have investigated the effects of paromomycin on protein synthesis in Leishmania and its mammalian hosts. We were able to demonstrate that in vivo protein synthesis in the promastigote stage of the parasite and its proliferation rate are markedly inhibited by paromomycin while being only slightly affected by other aminoglycoside antibiotics, such as streptomycin and neomycin B. Furthermore, both in vitro polypeptide synthesis induced by poly(U) as mRNA and accuracy of translation are significantly decreased by paromomycin in cell-free systems containing ribosomal particles of Leishmania promastigotes. Conversely, when ribosomes from mammalian cells are used instead of the protozoan particles, polyphenylalanine synthesis is only barely reduced by the antibiotic and the translation misreading remains almost unaltered. Surface plasmon resonance analysis of the interaction between paromomycin and protozoan or mammalian cell ribosomal RNAs shows a strong binding of antibiotic to the parasite ribosomal decoding site and practically no interaction with the mammalian cell counterpart. Our results indicating differential effects of paromomycin on the translation processes of the Leishmania parasite and its mammalian hosts can explain the therapeutic efficiency of this antibiotic as an antileishmaniasis agent.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marisa M. Fernández
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1113 Buenos Aires, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Patricias Argentinas 435, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Emilio L. Malchiodi
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1113 Buenos Aires, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Patricias Argentinas 435, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina
| | - Israel D. Algranati
- Cátedra de Inmunología and Instituto de Estudios de la Inmunidad Humoral (IDEHU), CONICET-UBA, Facultad de Farmacia y Bioquímica, Universidad de Buenos Aires, 1113 Buenos Aires, Fundación Instituto Leloir, Patricias Argentinas 435, 1405 Buenos Aires, Argentina
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Ceballos L, Moreno L, Alvarez L, Shaw L, Fairweather I, Lanusse C. Unchanged triclabendazole kinetics after co-administration with ivermectin and methimazole: failure of its therapeutic activity against triclabendazole-resistant liver flukes. BMC Vet Res 2010; 6:8. [PMID: 20128898 PMCID: PMC2829539 DOI: 10.1186/1746-6148-6-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/27/2009] [Accepted: 02/03/2010] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The reduced drug accumulation based on enhanced drug efflux and metabolic capacity, identified in triclabendazole (TCBZ)-resistant Fasciola hepatica may contribute to the development of resistance to TCBZ. The aim of this work was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics and clinical efficacy of TCBZ administered alone or co-administered with ivermectin (IVM, efflux modulator) and methimazole (MTZ, metabolic inhibitor) in TCBZ-resistant F. hepatica-parasitized sheep. Sheep infected with TCBZ-resistant F. hepatica (Sligo isolate) were divided into three groups (n = 4): untreated control, TCBZ-treated (i.r. at 10 mg/kg) and TCBZ+IVM+MTZ treated sheep (10 i.r., 0.2 s.c. and 1.5 i.m. mg/kg, respectively). Plasma samples were collected and analysed by HPLC. In the clinical efficacy study, the animals were sacrificed at 15 days post-treatment to evaluate the comparative efficacy against TCBZ-resistant F. hepatica. RESULTS The presence of IVM and MTZ did not affect the plasma disposition kinetics of TCBZ metabolites after the i.r. administration of TCBZ. The AUC value of TCBZ.SO obtained after TCBZ administration (653.9 +/- 140.6 microgxh/ml) was similar to that obtained after TCBZ co-administered with IVM and MTZ (650.7 +/- 122.8 microgxh/ml). Efficacy values of 56 and 38% were observed for TCBZ alone and for the combined treatment, respectively. No statistical differences (P > 0.05) were observed in fluke counts between treated groups and untreated control, which confirm the resistant status of the Sligo isolate. CONCLUSIONS The presence of IVM and MTZ did not affect the disposition kinetics of TCBZ and its metabolites. Thus, the combined drug treatment did not reverse the poor efficacy of TCBZ against TCBZ-resistant F. hepatica.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Ceballos
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Campus Universitario, 7000 Tandil, Argentina
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Kerr ID, Lee JH, Farady CJ, Marion R, Rickert M, Sajid M, Pandey KC, Caffrey CR, Legac J, Hansell E, McKerrow JH, Craik CS, Rosenthal PJ, Brinen LS. Vinyl sulfones as antiparasitic agents and a structural basis for drug design. J Biol Chem 2009; 284:25697-703. [PMID: 19620707 DOI: 10.1074/jbc.m109.014340] [Citation(s) in RCA: 199] [Impact Index Per Article: 13.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
Cysteine proteases of the papain superfamily are implicated in a number of cellular processes and are important virulence factors in the pathogenesis of parasitic disease. These enzymes have therefore emerged as promising targets for antiparasitic drugs. We report the crystal structures of three major parasite cysteine proteases, cruzain, falcipain-3, and the first reported structure of rhodesain, in complex with a class of potent, small molecule, cysteine protease inhibitors, the vinyl sulfones. These data, in conjunction with comparative inhibition kinetics, provide insight into the molecular mechanisms that drive cysteine protease inhibition by vinyl sulfones, the binding specificity of these important proteases and the potential of vinyl sulfones as antiparasitic drugs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iain D Kerr
- Department of Cellular and Molecular Pharmacology, University of California, San Francisco, California 94158-2550, USA
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Leishmanicidal activity of aliphatic and aromatic lactones: correlation structure-activity. Molecules 2009; 14:2491-500. [PMID: 19633618 PMCID: PMC6255270 DOI: 10.3390/molecules14072491] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/07/2009] [Accepted: 06/18/2009] [Indexed: 12/02/2022] Open
Abstract
Several aliphatic and aromatic lactones and two dimers were synthesized using the sequence: allylation - esterification - metathesis. These compounds were active in vitro against intracellular amastigotes of Leishmania panamensis. The structure-activity relationship showed the importance of the aliphatic side chain to enhance the biological activity and to obtain lower cytotoxicity. It was also observed that a decrease in the size of the lactone ring increases the selectivity index.
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Bonizzoni M, Afrane Y, Baliraine FN, Amenya DA, Githeko AK, Yan G. Genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum populations between lowland and highland sites and antimalarial drug resistance in Western Kenya. INFECTION GENETICS AND EVOLUTION 2009; 9:806-12. [PMID: 19398039 DOI: 10.1016/j.meegid.2009.04.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2009] [Revised: 04/14/2009] [Accepted: 04/15/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
Human travel to malaria endemic lowlands from epidemic highlands has been shown to increase the risk of malaria infections in the highlands. In order to gain insight on the impact of human travel, we examined prevalence, genetic variability and population genetic structure of Plasmodium falciparum in asymptomatic children from one highland site and three surrounding malaria endemic lowland sites in Western Kenya, using multilocus microsatellite genotyping. We further analyzed the frequencies of mutations at the genes conferring resistance to chloroquine and sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine. We found a significant decrease in malaria prevalence in the highland site from 2006 to 2007, 1 year after the introduction of the artemisinin-based combination therapy as first-line treatment for uncomplicated malaria and the scale-up of insecticide-treated bed nets. Population genetic diversity, measured by the number of observed and effective microsatellite alleles and Nei's unbiased genetic diversity, was high and comparable for both highland and lowland populations. Analysis of molecular variance did not detect a significant genetic structure across highland and lowland regions. Similarly, mutations at key antimalarial-resistance codons of the pfcrt, pfmdr1, pfdhfr and pfdhps genes were found at comparable high frequencies in all four sites. High level of gene flow and lack of significant genetic structure in malaria parasites between highland and lowland areas suggest the importance of human travel in shaping parasite population structure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mariangela Bonizzoni
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California, Irvine 92697, USA.
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Zhong D, Afrane Y, Githeko A, Cui L, Menge DM, Yan G. Molecular epidemiology of drug-resistant malaria in western Kenya highlands. BMC Infect Dis 2008; 8:105. [PMID: 18671871 PMCID: PMC2533336 DOI: 10.1186/1471-2334-8-105] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2008] [Accepted: 07/31/2008] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Since the late 1980s a series of malaria epidemics has occurred in western Kenya highlands. Among the possible factors that may contribute to the highland malaria epidemics, parasite resistance to antimalarials has not been well investigated. Methods Using parasites from highland and lowland areas of western Kenya, we examined key mutations associated with Plasmodium falciparum resistance to sulfadoxine – pyrimethamine and chloroquine, including dihydrofolate reductase (pfdhfr) and dihydropteroate synthetase (pfdhps), chloroquine resistance transporter gene (pfcrt), and multi-drug resistance gene 1 (pfmdr1). Results We found that >70% of samples harbored 76T pfcrt mutations and over 80% of samples harbored quintuple mutations (51I/59R/108N pfdhfr and 437G/540E pfdhps) in both highland and lowland samples. Further, we did not detect significant difference in the frequencies of these mutations between symptomatic and asymptomatic malaria volunteers, and between highland and lowland samples. Conclusion These findings suggest that drug resistance of malaria parasites in the highlands could be contributed by the mutations and their high frequencies as found in the lowland. The results are discussed in terms of the role of drug resistance as a driving force for malaria outbreaks in the highlands.
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Affiliation(s)
- Daibin Zhong
- Program in Public Health, College of Health Sciences, University of California at Irvine, Irvine, CA 92697, USA.
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Abstract
A leishmaniose tegumentar americana é doença infecciosa da pele e mucosa, cujo agente etiológico é um protozoário do gênero Leishmania. Seu tratamento é desafio porque as drogas disponíveis apresentam elevada toxicidade, e nenhuma delas é bastante eficaz. A recidiva, a falha terapêutica em pacientes imunodeprimidos e a resistência ao tratamento são fatores que motivam a busca de uma droga ideal.
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Mottier L, Alvarez L, Fairweather I, Lanusse C. Resistance-induced changes in triclabendazole transport in Fasciola hepatica: ivermectin reversal effect. J Parasitol 2007; 92:1355-60. [PMID: 17304820 DOI: 10.1645/ge-922r.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 53] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Triclabendazole (TCBZ) and albendazole (ABZ) are flukicidal benzimidazole compounds extensively used in veterinary medicine. Although TCBZ has excellent activity against mature and immature stages of the liver fluke, Fasciola hepatica, ABZ action is restricted to flukes older than 12 wk. The intensive use of TCBZ has resulted in the development of resistance. To gain insight into the mechanisms of resistance to TCBZ, the ex vivo diffusion of TCBZ, TCBZ sulfoxide (TCBZSO, the active metabolite of TCBZ), and ABZ into TCBZ-susceptible and -resistant adult flukes was compared. TCBZ-susceptible (Cullompton) and -resistant (Sligo) flukes were incubated in Krebs-Ringer Tris buffer with either TCBZ, TCBZSO, or ABZ (5 nmol/ ml) for 90 min. Drug/metabolite concentrations were quantified by high-performance liquid chromatography. All the assayed molecules penetrated through the tegument of both susceptible and resistant flukes. However, significantly lower concentrations of TCBZ and TCBZSO were recovered within the TCBZ-resistant flukes. In contrast, ABZ entrance into the susceptible and resistant flukes was equivalent. The influx/efflux balance for TCBZ, TCBZSO, and ABZ in susceptible and resistant flukes in the presence or absence of a substrate (ivermectin) of the drug transporter P-glycoprotein was assessed. The ivermectin-induced modulation of P-glycoprotein activity decreased TCBZ efflux from the resistant flukes. Higher concentrations of TCBZ and TCBZSO were recovered from the resistant liver flukes in the presence of ivermectin. Thus, an altered influx/efflux mechanism may account for the development of resistance to TCBZ in F. hepatica.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Mottier
- Laboratorio de Farmacología, Departamento de Fisiopatologia, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires (UNCPBA), Campus Universitario, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
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Brennan GP, Fairweather I, Trudgett A, Hoey E, McConville M, Meaney M, Robinson M, McFerran N, Ryan L, Lanusse C, Mottier L, Alvarez L, Solana H, Virkel G, Brophy PM. Understanding triclabendazole resistance. Exp Mol Pathol 2007; 82:104-9. [PMID: 17398281 DOI: 10.1016/j.yexmp.2007.01.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 163] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2006] [Revised: 01/15/2007] [Accepted: 01/17/2007] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Triclabendazole (TCBZ) has been the drug of choice to treat liver fluke infections in livestock for >20 years, due to its high activity against both adult and juvenile flukes. More recently, it has been used successfully to treat human cases of fascioliasis. Resistance to TCBZ first appeared in the field in Australia in the mid-1990s. Since then, resistance has been reported from a number of countries throughout Europe: Ireland, Scotland, Wales, Spain and The Netherlands. The heavy reliance on a single drug puts treatment strategies for fascioliasis at risk. Should resistance develop further, the prospect is an alarming one. This review will present an overview of progress in understanding the mechanism of resistance to TCBZ, examining possible changes in the target molecule, in drug influx/efflux mechanisms and in the metabolism of TCBZ by the fluke. The review will also consider ways to deal with resistance, covering drug-oriented options such as: the use of alternative drugs, drug combinations and the search for new compounds.
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Affiliation(s)
- G P Brennan
- Queen's University of Belfast, Belfast, N. Ireland.
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Molecular surveillance of drug-resistance associated mutations of Plasmodium falciparum in south-west Tanzania. Malar J 2007; 6:2. [PMID: 17224049 PMCID: PMC1781949 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-6-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/05/2006] [Accepted: 01/15/2007] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Background In Tanzania, drug-resistant malaria parasites are an increasing public health concern. Because of widespread chloroquine (CQ) resistance Tanzania changed its first line treatment recommendations for uncomplicated malaria from CQ to sulfadoxine-pyrimethamine (SP) in 2001. Loss of SP sensitivity is progressing rapidly. SP resistance is associated with mutations in the dihydrofolate reductase (pfdhfr) and dihydropteroate synthase (pfdhps) genes. Methods In samples from 86 patients with uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria from Mbeya and Matema, Mbeya region, south-western Tanzania, the occurrence of mutations was investigated in the pfcrt and pfmdr1 genes which are associated with CQ resistance and in pfdhfr and pfdhps, conferring SP resistance, as well in cytb which is linked to resistance to atovaquone. Results Pfcrt T76 occurs in 50% and pfmdr1 Y86 in 51.7%. Pfdhfr triple mutations coexisting with pfdhps double mutations were detected in 64.3% of the P. falciparum isolates. This quintuple mutation is seen as a possible predictive molecular marker for SP treatment failure. Mutations of the cytb gene were not detected. Conclusion These findings of a high prevalence of mutations conferring SP resistance correspond to data of in vivo SP efficacy studies in other regions of Tanzania and underline the recommendation of changing first-line treatment to artemisinin-based combination therapy.
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Singh S, Mukherjee A, Khomutov AR, Persson L, Heby O, Chatterjee M, Madhubala R. Antileishmanial effect of 3-aminooxy-1-aminopropane is due to polyamine depletion. Antimicrob Agents Chemother 2006; 51:528-34. [PMID: 17101681 PMCID: PMC1797741 DOI: 10.1128/aac.01055-06] [Citation(s) in RCA: 28] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
The polyamines putrescine, spermidine, and spermine are organic cations that are required for cell growth and differentiation. Ornithine decarboxylase (ODC), the first and rate-limiting enzyme in the polyamine biosynthetic pathway, catalyzes the conversion of ornithine to putrescine. As the polyamine biosynthetic pathway is essential for the growth and survival of Leishmania donovani, the causative agent of visceral leishmaniasis, inhibition of the pathway is an important leishmaniacidal strategy. In the present study, we examined for the first time the effects of 3-aminooxy-1-aminopropane (APA), an ODC inhibitor, on the growth of L. donovani. APA inhibited the growth of both promastigotes in vitro and amastigotes in the macrophage model, with the 50% inhibitory concentrations being 42 and 5 microM, respectively. However, concentrations of APA up to 200 microM did not affect the viability of macrophages. The effects of APA were completely abolished by the addition of putrescine or spermidine. APA induced a significant decrease in ODC activity and putrescine, spermidine, and trypanothione levels in L. donovani promastigotes. Parasites were transfected with an episomal ODC construct, and these ODC overexpressers exhibited significant resistance to APA and were concomitantly resistant to sodium antimony gluconate (Pentostam), indicating a role for ODC overexpression in antimonial drug resistance. Clinical isolates with sodium antimony gluconate resistance were also found to overexpress ODC and to have significant increases in putrescine and spermidine levels. However, no increase in trypanothione levels was observed. The ODC overexpression in these clinical isolates alleviated the antiproliferative effects of APA. Collectively, our results demonstrate that APA is a potent inhibitor of L. donovani growth and that its leishmaniacidal effect is due to inhibition of ODC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sushma Singh
- School of Life Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India
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41
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Walker J, Acestor N, Gongora R, Quadroni M, Segura I, Fasel N, Saravia NG. Comparative protein profiling identifies elongation factor-1β and tryparedoxin peroxidase as factors associated with metastasis in Leishmania guyanensis. Mol Biochem Parasitol 2006; 145:254-64. [PMID: 16325936 DOI: 10.1016/j.molbiopara.2005.10.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2004] [Accepted: 10/05/2005] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Parasites of the Leishmania Viannia subgenus are major causative agents of mucocutaneous leishmaniasis (MCL), a disease characterised by parasite dissemination (metastasis) from the original cutaneous lesion to form debilitating secondary lesions in the nasopharyngeal mucosa. We employed a protein profiling approach to identify potential metastasis factors in laboratory clones of L. (V.) guyanensis with stable phenotypes ranging from highly metastatic (M+) through infrequently metastatic (M+/M-) to non-metastatic (M-). Comparison of the soluble proteomes of promastigotes by two-dimensional electrophoresis revealed two abundant protein spots specifically associated with M+ and M+/M- clones (Met2 and Met3) and two others exclusively expressed in M- parasites (Met1 and Met4). The association between clinical disease phenotype and differential expression of Met1-Met4 was less clear in L. Viannia strains from mucosal (M+) or cutaneous (M-) lesions of patients. Identification of Met1-Met4 by biological mass spectrometry (LC-ES-MS/MS) and bioinformatics revealed that M+ and M- clones express distinct acidic and neutral isoforms of both elongation factor-1 subunit beta (EF-1beta) and cytosolic tryparedoxin peroxidase (TXNPx). This interchange of isoforms may relate to the mechanisms by which the activities of EF-1beta and TXNPx are modulated, and/or differential post-translational modification of the gene product(s). The multiple metabolic functions of EF-1 and TXNPx support the plausibility of their participation in parasite survival and persistence and thereby, metastatic disease. Both polypeptides are active in resistance to chemical and oxidant stress, providing a basis for further elucidation of the importance of antioxidant defence in the pathogenesis underlying MCL.
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Affiliation(s)
- John Walker
- Centro Internacional de Entrenamiento e Investigaciones Medicas (CIDEIM), Avenida 1 Norte No. 3-03, Cali, Colombia.
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Dutta A, Bandyopadhyay S, Mandal C, Chatterjee M. Development of a modified MTT assay for screening antimonial resistant field isolates of Indian visceral leishmaniasis. Parasitol Int 2005; 54:119-22. [PMID: 15866473 DOI: 10.1016/j.parint.2005.01.001] [Citation(s) in RCA: 105] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/12/2004] [Accepted: 01/31/2005] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The semi-automated MTT colorimetric assay has previously been applied on Leishmania promastigotes based on the ability of viable parasites to reduce the tetrazolium salt to an insoluble formazan product. As promastigotes are non-adherent, application of the MTT assay in its original form has a major drawback of a high and variable background absorbance due to incomplete removal of phenol red, a component of most media. We have accordingly optimised a modified MTT assay wherein the absorbance linearity was maintained for cells ranging from 1x10(4) to 1x10(7) being 0.04+/-0.003-2.38+/-0.04. In contrast, the original MTT assay had a narrower linearity range of 1x10(6)-1x10(7) cells, absorbances being 0.05+/-0.005-1.54+/-0.005. The modified MTT assay was effectively applied to study growth kinetics and identification of antimonial resistant field isolates. Considering the growing problem of antimonial unresponsiveness in the Indian subcontinent, this modified MTT assay is a useful tool for Leishmania research.
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Affiliation(s)
- Avijit Dutta
- Dept. of Immunobiology, Indian Institute of Chemical Biology, 4 Raja S.C. Mullick Road, Kolkata-700 032, India
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Jones PM, George AM. Multidrug resistance in parasites: ABC transporters, P-glycoproteins and molecular modelling. Int J Parasitol 2005; 35:555-66. [PMID: 15826647 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpara.2005.01.012] [Citation(s) in RCA: 48] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/15/2004] [Revised: 12/09/2004] [Accepted: 01/10/2005] [Indexed: 01/13/2023]
Abstract
Parasitic diseases, caused by protozoa, helminths and arthropods, rank among the most important problems in human and veterinary medicine, and in agriculture, leading to debilitating sicknesses and loss of life. In the absence of vaccines and with the general failure of vector eradication programs, drugs are the main line of defence, but the newest drugs are being tracked by the emergence of resistance in parasites, sharing ominous parallels with multidrug resistance in bacterial pathogens. Any of a number of mechanisms will elicit a drug resistance phenotype in parasites, including: active efflux, reduced uptake, target modification, drug modification, drug sequestration, by-pass shunting, or substrate competition. The role of ABC transporters in parasitic multidrug resistance mechanisms is being subjected to more scrutiny, due in part to the established roles of certain ABC transporters in human diseases, and also to an increasing portfolio of ABC transporters from parasite genome sequencing projects. For example, over 100 ABC transporters have been identified in the Escherichia coli genome, but to date only about 65 in all parasitic genomes. Long established laboratory investigations are now being assisted by molecular biology, bioinformatics, and computational modelling, and it is in these areas that the role of ABC transporters in parasitic multidrug resistance mechanisms may be defined and put in perspective with that of other proteins. We discuss ABC transporters in parasites, and conclude with an example of molecular modelling that identifies a new interaction between the structural domains of a parasite P-glycoprotein.
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Affiliation(s)
- P M Jones
- Department of Cell and Molecular Biology, University of Technology Sydney, P.O. Box 123, Broadway, NSW 2007, Australia
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Abou-Eisha A, Afifi M. Genotoxic evaluation of the antimalarial drug, fansidar, in cultured human lymphocytes. Cell Biol Toxicol 2004; 20:303-11. [PMID: 15685933 DOI: 10.1007/s10565-004-5352-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Fansidar (pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine) has been used extensively worldwide for the treatment of chloroquine resistant Plasmodium falciparum malaria, toxoplasmosis and Pneumocystis carinii pneumonia in patients with the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome. Because of the wide usage of pyrimethamine-sulfadoxine in developing countries and the lake of information from open literature and reports from manufacturers about the genotoxicity of such antimalarial drug, the present work was suggested. The possible genetic toxicity of fansidar has been evaluated in human peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures. The frequencies of sister-chromatid exchanges (SCE) and micronuclei (MN) were scored as genetic endpoints. Both tests covering a wide range of induced genetic damage as primary DNA damage, clastogenicity and aneugenicity. Cultures were set up by using blood samples from two healthy donors and the treatment was done using different fansidar concentrations ranging from 1:20 to 10:200 microg/ml. From our results, it appears that this drug is able to induce moderate genotoxic effects, as revealed by the increases found in SCE and MN frequencies in cultures from the two donors at the two highest concentrations tested (5:100 and 10:200 microg/ml). In addition, cyotoxic/cytostatic effects of fansidar were revealed by a decrease in the proliferative rate index (PRI) and in the cytokinesis block proliferation index (CBPI). Our findings suggest that the use of this drug should be restricted to situations where other antimalarial drugs cannot be used. The drug should never be given to pregnant women.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Abou-Eisha
- Department of Cell Biology, National Research Center, Dokki, Cairo, Egypt.
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45
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Alvarez LI, Mottier ML, Lanusse CE. Comparative assessment of the access of albendazole, fenbendazole and triclabendazole to Fasciola hepatica: effect of bile in the incubation medium. Parasitology 2004; 128:73-81. [PMID: 15002906 DOI: 10.1017/s0031182003004281] [Citation(s) in RCA: 21] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The work reported here describes the comparative ability of albendazole (ABZ), fenbendazole (FBZ) and triclabendazole (TCBZ) to penetrate through the tegument of mature Fasciola hepatica, and the influence of the physicochemical composition of the incubation medium on the drug diffusion process. The data obtained from the trans-tegumental diffusion kinetic studies were complemented with the determination of lipid-to-water partition coefficients (octanol-water) for the benzimidazole (BZD) anthelmintic drugs assayed. Sixteen-week-old F. hepatica were obtained from untreated artificially infected sheep. The flukes were incubated (37 degrees C) over 60 and 90 min in incubation media (pH 7.4) prepared with different proportions of ovine bile and Krebs' Ringer Tris (KRT) buffer (100, 75, 50, 25 and 0% of bile) containing either ABZ, FBZ or TCBZ at a final concentration of 5 nmol/ml. After the incubation time expired, the liver fluke material was chemically processed and analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to measure drug concentrations within the parasite. Additionally, the octanol-water partition coefficients (PC) for each molecule were calculated (as an indicator of drug lipophilicity) using reversed phase HPLC. The 3 BZD molecules were recovered from F. hepatica at both incubation times in all incubation media assayed. The trans-tegumental diffusion of the most lipophilic molecules ABZ and FBZ (higher PC values) tended to be greater than that observed for TCBZ. Interestingly, the uptake of ABZ by the liver flukes was significantly greater than that measured for TCBZ, the most widely used flukicidal BZD compound. This differential uptake pattern may be a relevant issue to be considered to deal with TCBZ-resistant flukes. Drug concentrations measured within the parasite were lower in the incubations containing the highest bile proportions. The highest total availabilities of the 3 compounds were obtained in liver flukes incubated in the absence of bile. Altogether, these findings demonstrated that the entry of the drug into a target parasite may not only depend on a concentration gradient, the lipophilicity of the molecule and absorption surface, but also on the physicochemical composition of the parasite's surrounding environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- L I Alvarez
- Laboratorio de Farmacologia, Departamento de Fisiopatología, Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias, Universidad Nacional del Centro de la Provincia de Buenos Aires, Campus Universitario, 7000, Tandil, Argentina
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46
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Anacleto C, Abdo MCB, Ferreira AVB, Murta SMF, Romanha AJ, Fernandes AP, Moreira ESA. Structural and functional analysis of an amplification containing a PGPA gene in a glucantime-resistant Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis cell line. Parasitol Res 2003; 90:110-8. [PMID: 12756544 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-002-0798-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2002] [Accepted: 10/29/2002] [Indexed: 10/25/2022]
Abstract
Drug resistance is a complex phenomenon in Leishmania and commonly involves gene amplification. Active efflux and metal sequestration through a P-glycoprotein have been pointed to as the major mechanisms used by drug-resistant Leishmania. A gene amplification from a glucantime-resistant Leishmania (Viannia) guyanensis cell line was characterised in an attempt to understand the mechanism of metal resistance in this pathogenic species. We show that the amplification is present as an extrachromosomal amplicon of 30 kb and contains a PGPA gene ( LgPGPA), which is overexpressed in the resistant line as shown by Northern and Western blot analyses. In addition, we gathered evidence from transfection experiments for the role of the LgPGPA gene in oxyanion resistance in L. (V.) guyanensis. Our work indicates that, in this pathogenic New World Leishmania species, amplification of the PGPA gene is the major determinant in oxyanion resistance.
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Affiliation(s)
- Charles Anacleto
- Departamento de Microbiologia, Instituto de Ciências Biológicas, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, CP 486, CEP 31270-901, Belo Horizonte, MG, Brazil
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Abstract
Microorganisms and viruses have developed numerous resistance mechanisms that enable them to evade the effect of antimicrobials and antivirals. As a result, many have become resistant to almost every available means of treatment. This problem, although not new, is becoming increasingly acute and it is now clear that a fundamental understanding of the mechanisms that microbes and viruses deploy in the development of resistance is essential if we are to gain new insights into ways to combat this problem.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenneth S McKeegan
- Centre for Infectious Diseases, Wolfson Research Institute, University of Durham, Queen's Campus, Stockton-on-Tees, UK
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48
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Jelinek T, Peyerl-Hoffmann G, Mühlberger N, Wichmann O, Wilhelm M, Schmider N, Grobusch MP, von Sonnenburg F, Gascon J, Laferl H, Hatz C, Alifrangis M, Burchard G, McWhinney P, Schulze M, Kollaritsch H, da Cunha S, Beřan J, Kern P, Gjørup I, Cuadros J. Molecular surveillance of drug resistance through imported isolates of Plasmodium falciparum in Europe. Malar J 2002; 1:11. [PMID: 12423552 PMCID: PMC140139 DOI: 10.1186/1475-2875-1-11] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/02/2002] [Accepted: 10/11/2002] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Results from numerous studies point convincingly to correlations between mutations at selected genes and phenotypic resistance to antimalarials in Plasmodium falciparum isolates. In order to move molecular assays for point mutations on resistance-related genes into the realm of applied tools for surveillance, we investigated a selection of P. falciparum isolates that were imported during the year 2001 into Europe to study the prevalence of resistance-associated point mutations at relevant codons. In particular, we tested for parasites which were developing resistance to antifolates and chloroquine. The screening results were used to map the prevalence of mutations and, thus, levels of potential drug resistance in endemic areas world-wide. RESULTS 337 isolates have been tested so far. Prevalence of mutations that are associated with resistance to chloroquine on the pfcrt and pfmdr genes of P. falciparum was demonstrated at high levels. However, the prevalence of mutations associated with resistance to antifolates at the DHFR and DHPS genes was unexpectedly low, rarely exceeding 60% in endemic areas. CONCLUSIONS Constant screening of imported isolates will enable TropNetEurop to establish a screening tool for emerging resistance in endemic areas.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tomas Jelinek
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Gabriele Peyerl-Hoffmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Nikolai Mühlberger
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Ole Wichmann
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Michael Wilhelm
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Nadja Schmider
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Martin P Grobusch
- Department of Medicine (Infectious Diseases), Charité / Campus Virchow-Klinikum, Humboldt University, Augustenburger Platz 1, 13353 Berlin, Germany
- Institut für Tropenmedizin, Eberhard-Karls-Universität Tübingen Keplerstr. 15, 72074 Tübingen, Germany
| | - Frank von Sonnenburg
- Department of Infectious Diseases and Tropical Medicine, University of Munich, Leopoldstr. 5, 80802 Munich, Germany
| | - Joaquim Gascon
- Sección de Medicina Tropical, Hospital Clinic, Villaroel 170, 08036 Barcelona, Spain
| | - Hermann Laferl
- Kaiser-Franz-Josef-Spital der Stadt Wien, 4. Medizinische Abteilung mit Infektions- und Tropenmedizin, Kundratstr. 3, 1100 Vienna, Austria
| | - Christoph Hatz
- Swiss Tropical Institute, Medizin & Diagnostik, Socinstr. 57, 4002 Basel, Switzerland
| | - Michael Alifrangis
- Centre of Medical Parasitology, Panum Institute 24-2, University of Copenhagen, Blegdamsvej 3, 2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark
| | - Gerd Burchard
- Institute of Tropical Medicine, Humboldt-University, Spandauer Damm 130, 14050 Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul McWhinney
- Bradford Royal Infirmary, Infection and Tropical Medicine, Duckworth Lane, BD9 6RJ Bradford, United Kingdom
| | - Marco Schulze
- Städtische Kliniken "St. Georg", 2. Klinik für Innere Medizin, Delitzscher Straβ 141, 04129 Leipzig, Germany
| | - Herwig Kollaritsch
- Abteilung für spezifische Prophylaxe und Tropenmedizin am Institut für Pathophysiologie, Universität Wien, Kinderspitalgasse 15, 1095 Vienna, Austria
| | - Saraiva da Cunha
- Consulta de Medicina do Viajante, Departamento de Doenças Infecciosas, Hospital Universitário, 3000 Coimbra, Portugal
| | - Jiři Beřan
- Epidemiological Services, Purkinje Military Academy, P.O. Box 35, 50001 Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic
| | - Peter Kern
- Sektion Infektiologie und Klinische Immunologie, Universität Ulm, Robert-Koch-Straβ 8, 89081 Ulm, Germany
| | - Ida Gjørup
- Department of Infectious Diseases M 5132, University Hospital, Blegdamsvej 9, 2100 Copenhagen Ø, Denmark
| | - Juan Cuadros
- Department of Clinical Microbiology and Parasitology, Hospital Príncipe de Asturias, Alcalá de Henares, 28805 Madrid, Spain
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Schallig HDFH, Oskam L. Molecular biological applications in the diagnosis and control of leishmaniasis and parasite identification. Trop Med Int Health 2002; 7:641-51. [PMID: 12167091 DOI: 10.1046/j.1365-3156.2002.00911.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 56] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022]
Abstract
Molecular biology is increasingly relevant to the diagnosis and control of infectious diseases. Information on DNA sequences has been extensively exploited for the development of polymerase chain reaction-based assays for the diagnosis of leishmaniasis and the identification of parasite species. It has also led to the use of cloned antigen for serodiagnosis. It is expected that the sequencing of the Leishmania major genome and the genomes of other Leishmania species will enable important progress in further improving diagnosis and control. The ability to use genome data to clone and sequence genes, which, when expressed, provide antigens for vaccine development, will increase the possibilities for rational vaccine development. Moreover, DNA on its own will provide the basis for the development of DNA vaccines that may overcome some of the problems encountered with protein-based vaccines. One of the greatest threats to parasite control is the development of drug resistance in parasites. Knowing the molecular basis of drug resistance and the ability to monitor its development with sensitive and specific DNA-based assays for 'resistance alleles' may aid maintaining the effectiveness of available anti-Leishmania drugs. Finally, techniques such as microarrays and nucleic acid sequence-based amplification will eventually allow rapid screening for specific parasite genotypes and assist in diagnostic and epidemiological studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henk D F H Schallig
- Koninklijk Instituut voor de Tropen (KIT), Biomedical Research, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
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